everybody likes a joke. even a bad one. the attempt alone is enough to sometimes win over an audience. they know that you know that they want to laugh and have fun, and even if you aren't making them laugh, at least you're trying. this is JBT's random unsolicited advice. thanks for joining us.
Author: JBT
Born in Washington, DC and raised in Crofton, Maryland, Jonathan B. Tucker (JBT) is a writer, performer, educator, DJ, and dreamer passionate about poetry, youth empowerment, racial and social justice, and finding purpose through service to others. He has received numerous awards and artist fellowships, and has performed and taught at schools, libraries, detention centers, museums, and conferences around the world. His poems have appeared in Howard University’s Amistad Journal alongside the late Amiri Baraka (Howard University, 2011), in Etan Thomas’s anthology Voices of the Future (Haymarket Books, 2012), in two self-published chapbooks (jonathan b. tucker, 2010; and i got the matches, 2012), and on the stages of the Kennedy Center and the South African State Theatre. JBT represented DC at the National Poetry Slam in 2009 and 2010, and has helped coordinate and coach the DC Youth Slam Team with Split This Rock since 2011.
#423 – “girl, u be killin em”
wear your relationship status on your finger like a slavery certificate that says "mozel tov!" wear your heartache under your eyes like a concealer that costs way too much but can't be returned wear it proudly let it burn in the eyes of jealous jackals wear your regrets under your shoes like dirty socks, few … Continue reading #423 – “girl, u be killin em”
Thursday Grand Slam Finals
all of it
326 magnetic poetry
while hanging out at City at Peace DC today, i rearranged some of the words on the freezer door to make this poem below. i have a photo of it, but my phone is acting up, so here are the words. let me know what you think, and if you have an idea for a … Continue reading 326 magnetic poetry
a poet speaks
for a symphony of sad a poet speaks regrets and repeats life like a cypher a poet speaks we'd like to like her you'd like to light her see reality's thunderclap just behind your eyes the moment her lightening strikes your skies a poet speaks to the hidden and hiding the forbidden and the biding … Continue reading a poet speaks
Slam March 31st
Support the DC Youth Poetry Slam Team
interviewing the poet
i just found this video, some year or two after it was made. i had no clue i was online here. i don't even really remember this interview, but i do recall working with Sol y Soul. i hope you enjoy this little candid sneak peak at conversational jonathan giving terribly vague and weak answers … Continue reading interviewing the poet
youth poetry in dc
metro weekly at beltway slam
interview before the Beltway Poetry Slam at The Fridge, February 1, 2011. and check out more on Metro Weekly, and their Outspoken program here.
featuring at Nine on the Ninth
yeah, this guy is featuring at the long-running Nine on the Ninth poetry series on Wednesday, Feb. 9th at 9pm (of course) at the original Busboys and Poets in the Langston Room. family might be in attendance too. come check it out if you are in or around the washington, dc area. it's a free … Continue reading featuring at Nine on the Ninth
“oh, Jonathan!”
last night was super fantastic amazing beautiful. i got to meet and hang out with Suheir Hammad, who is a much better poet than myself. i could not have asked for a better gift. here is her and i in the bookstore. you can see her books on the bottom left here on the checkout … Continue reading “oh, Jonathan!”
WOWPS – Suheir Hammad & Carolyn Forche – poetry overload
this thursday i have the distinct pleasure of opening up for Suheir Hammad and Carolyn Forche, as they do a poetry reading at busboys and poets, 14th & v st nw, washington, dc. i am a huge fan of Suheir's, so this is momentous for me. if you're around the area, this is a FREE … Continue reading WOWPS – Suheir Hammad & Carolyn Forche – poetry overload
beltway poetry slam photos
hosting the beltway poetry slam back in october or something. i forget. gotta love the dreamer hat with the green apple higher achievement shirt. this is 2deep the poetess, my teammate from the 2009 11th hour busboys and poets dc slam team, and the feature at january 2011's beltway poetry "slam of the union" this … Continue reading beltway poetry slam photos
Slam of the Union: A Performance Poetry Showdown and Other Life Things I Do
after an extraordinary garden open mic last night at bloombars, featuring 16 year old Darian Jones, i hosted another packed house poetry slam at the fridge on capitol hill. the beltway poetry "slam of the union" included former DC/Baltimore Slam Team legends like Twain Dooley and Chris August, as well as IWPS and WOWPS contender … Continue reading Slam of the Union: A Performance Poetry Showdown and Other Life Things I Do
birthday party with lord tennyson
tonight i performed for a friend's birthday party. he requested this poem, so i read it with what passion i could muster, and what meaning i could conjure (for many of it leaves me clueless). i think it went well. here is the poem Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Ulysses - Alfred Tennyson It little … Continue reading birthday party with lord tennyson
youth open mic series – support your local young dreamers
the busboys and poets youth open mic was fully packed tonight, as you can see here. in the lower left-hand corner you can see co-host JayTee next to friend & organizer/producer Miles, and in the first row sitting, with a red/orange top, you can see the other co-host, Diamante, from the DC Youth Slam Team. … Continue reading youth open mic series – support your local young dreamers
1.11.11 nikki giovanni looks me in the eyes
front row packed house blizzard brewing i sat enraptured captured not by the poetry but the presence of a legend looking me square in the eyes to make sense of the life encapsulated in her words opinions and wise words of advice analysis from a respected elder an aunt that will always give it to … Continue reading 1.11.11 nikki giovanni looks me in the eyes
JBT 